Roller bit



Patented Aug. 125, 1936 UNITED STATES ROLLER BIT John V. Pennington, Houston, Tex., assignor to Reed Roller Bit Company, Houston, Tex., a

corporation of Texas Application August 27, 1934, Serial No. 741,618 16 Claims. (Cl. 255-71) This invention relates generally to deep well drilling apparatus, and specifically to roller bits.

One conventional roller bit includes a head having a cutter recess in which are mounted oppositely disposed side roller cutters rotatable on axes inclined inwardly and downwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the head, and cross roller cutters disposed between the side roller cutters and rotatable on an axis at a right angle to the axes of the side roller cutters, and radial to the head. The side roller cutters traverse an annular path of an outside diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the head, and the cross roller cutters traverse the area within the annular path.

This invention has for its general object the provision of a new and improved cross roller bit of this type, in which the axes of rotation of the cross roller cutters are disposed at an angle different from the angle at which conventional cross roller cutter axes are disposed with respect to the side cutters and the head,-whereby the action of the bit includesnot only chipping and penetrating, but shearing and scraping. the formation, so that the boring efiiciency of the bit is greatly increased.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The preferredembodiments of the invention are illustrated by the accompanying drawing,

wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bit; Fig. 2, a bottom plan view thereof; and Figs. 3 and 4, detail views illustrating two embodiments of the cross roller bearing.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the bit head is indicated at I. It has oppositely disposed depending bearing projections, one of which is indicatedat 2 to support the side roller cutter pins, one of which is indicated at 3. The pins 3 are connected by the bridge 4, and on the pins 3 are side roller cutters 5. The axes of rotation of the side roller cutters 5 are inclined downwardly and inwardly substantially toward the axis of the head.

Between the side roller cutters 5 are the aligned cross roller cutters 6 supported by the cross roller cutter pin I, which is in turn supported by the depending bearing projections 8 of the head. The cross roller cutters are rotatable on arms nonradial to the head I. The cutters 5 and 6 may be substantially cylindrical and provided with parallel, longitudinal teeth as shown. The shape of these cutters and their teeth, however, may be substantially varied, as will be obvious to those skilled ,in the art. Thus,.the cross roller cutters-6 may be disk-like with circumferential teeth.

When the bit is rotated in the well, the side roller cutters 5 will traverse an annular path, the outside diameter of which is somewhat greater. than the diameter of the head I, and. the cross roller cutters 6 will traverse the area within 5 said annular path. Cross roller cutters corresponding to the cross roller cutters 6 have heretofore been mounted so that the axes of rotation thereof were coincident with the axisof a straight cross roller cutter pin 1 which was extended dia- 10 metrically across the head. In accordancewith this invention the axes of rotation of the cross roller cutters B are nonradial, as above stated, and the cross roller cutters are positioned as shown particularly by Fig. 2, so that they will not have merely a true rolling movement to chip the formation, but will also have a movement whereby the formation is sheared and scraped as well as chipped. And this will add greatly to the efii ciency of this type of bit.

Referring now to the bearing construction whereby-thecross roller cutters may be held in alignment angularly as above stated, in Fig. 3 the pin 9 supported by the depending bearing projection 8 has non-radial bearing portions 9a, on the sides of which are the annular flanges 9b. Cross roller cutters 6 are mounted on these bearing portions 9a, and. anti-friction rollers ID are interposed between the' two. 'It willbe understood that the .pin 9 extends through the bridge 4 to the depending projection 8 on the voppbsite side of the head, and that the elements to ,the right of the bridge 4 (not shown) are constructed as are the elements shown by Fig. 3. y

In Fig. 4 the cross roller cutter pin is indicated at II. It is non-circular in cross section and has thereon bushings I2 to form non-radial bearings for cross .roller'cutters 6, the bushings l2 being exteriorly grooved for the reception of the rollers I3. The numeral I4 indicates a cap which may be placed on the end of the pin I I within the bearing 8. The bearing projection 8, cap I4 and pin ll serve to hold the business I2 stationary.

- Various embodiments of this invention and ad-' vantages thereof other than as above stated will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim;

1. A roller bit having a head; oppositely disposed side roller cutters on said head rotatable on axes inclined downwardly and inwardly substantially toward the longitudinal axis of said head; and aligned cross roller cutters between said side roller. cutters and rotatable on axes nonra dial with respect to said headsubstantially parallel with each other.

2. A roller bit having a head; oppositely disposed side roller cutters on said head rotatable on axes inclined downwardly and inwardly substantially toward the longitudinal axis of said head; and cross roller cutters between said side roller cutters and rotatable on axes non-radial with respect to said head substantially parallel with each other.

3. A roller bit having a head; oppositely disposed side roller cutters on said head rotatable on axes inclined downwardly and inwardly substantially toward the longitudinal axis of said head; and cross roller cutters between said side roller cutters and rotatable on axes non-radial with respect to said head.

4. A roller bit having a head; a side roller cutter; and cross roller cutters rotatable on axes non-radial with respect to said head.

5. A bit having a head; oppositely disposed side roller cutters mounted in said head on axes inclined downwardly and inwardly substantially toward the longitudinal axis of said head; a cross roller cutter pin carried by and extending substantially diametrically across said head between said side roller cutters; bushings on said pin with their outer bearing surfaces in non-radial relation with respect to said head and having external annular grooves therein; cross roller cutters on saidbushings; and rollers in said grooves between said bushings and said cross roller cutters.

6. A bit having a head; oppositely disposed side roller cutters mounted in said head on axes inclined downwardly and inwardly substantially toward the longitudinal axis of said head; a cross roller cutter pin carried by said head between said side roller cutters; bushings on said pin with their outer bearing surfaces in non-radial relation with respect to said head; cross roller cutters on said bushings; and rollers between said bushings and said cross roller cutters.

7. A bit having a head; oppositely disposed side roller cutters mounted in said head; a cross roller cutter pin carried by said head between said side roller cutters; bushings on said pin with their outer bearing surfaces in non-radial relation with 9. A bit having a head; oppositely disposed side roller cutters mounted in said head, and rotate able on axes extending downwardly and inwardly substantially toward the longitudinal axis of said head; a cross roller cutter pin carried by said head and extending across said head between said side roller cutters, said pin having bearing portions with their outer bearing surfaces in non radial relation with respect to said head, and annular flanges between said portions; cross roller cutters on said bearing portions; and rollers between said bearing portions and said cross roller cutters.

10. A bit having a head; oppositely disposed side roller cutters mounted in said head, and rotatable on axes extending downwardly and inwardly substantially toward the longitudinal axis of said head; a cross roller cutter pin carried by said head between said side roller cutters, said pin having bearing portions with their outer bearing surfaces in non-radial relation with respect to said head; cross roller cutters on said bearing portions; and rollers between said bearing portions and said cross roller' cutters.

11. A bit having a head; side roller cutters mounted in said head; a cross roller cutter pin carried by said head between said side roller cutters, said pin having bearing portions with their outer bearing surfaces in non-radial relation with respect to said head; and cross roller cutters on said bearing portions.

12. A roller bit having a head; a side roller cutter on said head; and cross roller cutters having peripheral cutting teeth and rotatable on axes which are non-radial with respect to said head.

13. A roller bit having a head; a side roller cutter on said head; and cross roller cutters having longitudinally extending peripheral cutting teeth and rotatable on axes which are non-radial with respect to said head.

14. A roller bit having a head; a side roller cutter on said head; and cross roller cutters having peripheral cutting teeth extending axially of the roller cutters rotatable on axes which are non-radial with respect to said head.

15. A roller bit having a head; a side roller cutter; and cross roller cutters rotatable on nonradial axes said axes being at an angle to a transverse diameter of the head.

16. A roller bit having a head; a side roller cutter; and cross roller cutters rotatable on axes non-radial with respect to said head, the centers of each of said cross roller cutter axes lying on a transverse diameter of the cutter head.

JOHN V. PENNINGTON. 

